FAU apologizes after Jesus assignment sparks outrage

Florida Atlantic University has apologized for a class assignment in which students were asked to write "Jesus" on a piece of paper, and then throw it on the floor and stomp on it.

Instructor Deandre Poole's March 4 exercise in the Intercultural Communications class on the FAU Davie campus created a nationwide stir, with blogs and social media sites abuzz with complaints from critics who called it an affront to Christianity.

"This exercise will not be used again," an FAU statement said. "…We sincerely apologize for any offense this caused. Florida Atlantic University respects all religions and welcomes people of all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs."

FAU had initially defended the assignment, with communications department director Noemi Marin saying on Wednesday, "while at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate."

Poole, a non-tenured instructor who has worked at FAU since 2010, couldn't be reached for comment, despite repeated attempts.

The exercise was part of an instructor's manual, written by Jim Neuliep, a communications professor at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. It was part of a chapter dealing the power of certain words

"This exercise is a bit sensitive, but really drives home the point that even though symbols are arbitrary, they take on very strong and emotional meanings," the exercise states. Of the stomping, it said, "most will hesitate. Ask why they can't step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture."

Academic freedom generally allows instructors to conduct controversial lessons as long as the material is relevant to the lesson, and the instructor is competent, said Jenn Nichols, of the Washington D.C.-based American Association of University Professors.

But this exercise was out of line, says Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Orlando-based Liberty Counsel, a legal group focusing on religious liberty issues.

"Teachers obviously have a broad spectrum of ways they can instruct, but some things just defy common sense," he said. "I can't imagine any educational or pedagogical reasons to take the name of Jesus and stomp it on the floor."

Poole, who is also the vice chairman of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, and FAU became the subject of numerous national stories in recent days.

Fox News contributor Mike Huckabee questioned whether the assignment would be allowed had students been asked to stomp on Mohammed, the sacred figure in Islam.

So far, 2013 has been a controversial year for the university. In January, associate professor James Tracy questioned on his personal blog whether the Sandy Hook massacre happened. Then in February, FAU became the subject of protests when it named its stadium after the GEO Group, a prison company that donated $6 million to the university.